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How to Choose and Buy a Karaoke Machine

Here are some hints and tips on things to consider when choosing and buying a karaoke machine:

Type of Karaoke Machine

The first thing to decide is whether you want a DVD Player/Karaoke Machine or a stand-alone karaoke machine. If you already have a good home entertainment system, you may want to choose a DVD Player/Karaoke Machine, as you can use your home entertainment system speakers with it. These models are also versatile as you can use them in the same way as a standard DVD player, and they tend to be compact and easy to store.

However, if you are looking for a karaoke machine that has its own in-built speakers and television screen, the stand-alone karaoke machine will be the best option. These tend to be bulkier but are ideal if you are going to be having regular karaoke sessions.

If your karaoke machine is only going to be used by the kids, you may want to consider buying one of the funky and fun karaoke machines or stands specifically designed for children.

You should also check the product description of any model that you are considering to make sure that it plays the type of disc that you are likely to use. The main types of disc used are CDs, CDGs and DVDs.

You can find out more about these different types of karaoke machines and karaoke discs on our Types of Karaoke Machine page.

Effects and Features

When you are using your karaoke machine, you’ll want to make your voice sound as good as you can, and different models of karaoke machine have different features and effects to help you to do this. Check the product descriptions carefully to make sure that your chosen model has the effects that you think you’ll want.

Some of the features and effects that you can get are:

• Pitch controller – this alters the pitch of the backing track by speeding it up or slowing it down so that you can change it to suit your vocal range
• Key controller – this alters the key of the song so that you can change it to suit your vocal range
• Echo – this adds an echo effect to your voice, which makes it sound more professional and interesting to listen to because it gives it depth.
• Auto vocal cut – this automatically removes the vocals from recordings that contain the vocal track when you start singing, which means that you can play the track with the vocals to help you learn how to sing the song. This doesn’t work for standard audio CDs, so you can only use it with certain karaoke CDs known as “multiplex recordings”.

Accessories for Karaoke Machines

Check to see whether your chosen model comes with microphones and karaoke discs, as this can add extra value. It’s worth buying a selection of karaoke discs so that you have plenty of choice and two microphones so that you can sing duets!

If the model that you’re buying doesn’t include these, it’s worth ordering them at the same time. You can find out more about some of the different products that you can buy to go with your new karaoke machine on our Accessories page.

Warranty

Check the product description to make sure that you are happy with the terms of the manufacturer’s guarantee, as the warranty length can vary depending on the brand and model that you choose.

Further Information

To find out more about the different types of karaoke machine available, visit our Types section.

For details of specific models of karaoke machine, visit our Brands section.

To find out where you can get some great deals on karaoke machines, visit our Where to Buy section.

To find out more about the types of accessories you can get for your karaoke machine, visit our Accessories section.